U.S. patent number 9,509,069 [Application Number 14/579,051] was granted by the patent office on 2016-11-29 for electrical connector and female terminal.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.. The grantee listed for this patent is Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.. Invention is credited to Tetsuro Akiguchi, Arata Harada, Ryuichi Komiyama, Masao Noguchi, Natsuki Nozawa, Hitoshi Ozaki, Yoshifumi Suemitsu, Kazuhiko Ueda.
United States Patent |
9,509,069 |
Komiyama , et al. |
November 29, 2016 |
Electrical connector and female terminal
Abstract
An electrical connector is disclosed having a housing and a
female terminal. The housing has an assembly receiving space. The
female terminal is positioned in the assembly receiving space and
has a first female terminal, a second female terminal, and an
elastic connecting spring. The first female terminal has a first
contact receiving space. The second female terminal has a second
contact receiving space and is independently displaceable relative
to the first female terminal along a longitudinal axis. The elastic
connecting spring connects the first female terminal to the second
female terminal.
Inventors: |
Komiyama; Ryuichi (Kanagawa,
JP), Akiguchi; Tetsuro (Kanagawa, JP),
Suemitsu; Yoshifumi (Kanagawa, JP), Ueda;
Kazuhiko (Aichi-ken, JP), Nozawa; Natsuki
(Aichi-ken, JP), Ozaki; Hitoshi (Aichi-ken,
JP), Noguchi; Masao (Aichi-ken, JP),
Harada; Arata (Aichi-ken, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha |
Kanagawa
Aichi-ken |
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
(Kanagawa-ken, JP)
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Aichi-ken,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
49782591 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/579,051 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150111419 A1 |
Apr 23, 2015 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
PCT/JP2013/003483 |
Jun 3, 2013 |
|
|
|
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28, 2012 [JP] |
|
|
2012-145261 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
12/91 (20130101); H01R 11/01 (20130101); H01R
13/6315 (20130101); H01R 13/11 (20130101); H01R
13/502 (20130101); H01R 13/533 (20130101); H01R
2201/26 (20130101); H01R 13/6272 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
11/01 (20060101); H01R 13/631 (20060101); H01R
12/91 (20110101); H01R 13/11 (20060101); H01R
13/502 (20060101); H01R 13/533 (20060101); H01R
13/627 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/510,572,121,627,813,816 ;337/198 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57158969 |
|
Sep 1982 |
|
JP |
|
2000091029 |
|
Mar 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2003323924 |
|
Nov 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2008243538 |
|
Oct 2008 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
European Search Report, dated Dec. 15, 2015, 7 pages. cited by
applicant .
Abstract of JP2008243538, dated Oct. 9, 2008, 1 page. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Gilman; Alexander
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barley Snyder
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of PCT International Application
No. PCT/JP2013/003483 filed Jun. 3, 2013 which claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Japanese Patent Application No.
2012-145261, dated Jun. 28, 2012.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical connector comprising: a housing having an assembly
receiving space; and a female terminal positioned in the assembly
receiving space and having: a first female terminal fixed to the
housing having a first contact receiving space, a second female
terminal having a second contact receiving space and being
independently displaceable in the assembly receiving space relative
to the first female terminal and housing along a longitudinal axis,
and an elastic connecting spring having an approximate S-shape
connecting the first female terminal to the second female
terminal.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the
elastic connecting spring is elastically deformed by a load smaller
than a force of insertion and extraction between the second female
terminal and a second male contact.
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein positions
of the first female terminal and the second female terminal are
offset, so as to be out of alignment along the longitudinal
axis.
4. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein a first male
contact is inserted into the first contact receiving space.
5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the first
male contact and the second male contact have different vibration
patterns.
6. A female terminal used in an electrical connector, comprising: a
first female terminal having a first contact receiving space; a
second female terminal having a second contact receiving space and
positioned offset with respect to the first female terminal so as
to be out of alignment along the longitudinal axis, the second
female terminal being independently displaceable along a
longitudinal axis, relative to the first female terminal; and an
elastic connecting spring having an approximate S-shape connecting
the first female terminal to the second female terminal.
7. The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein the first
female terminal is fixed to an electrical connector housing.
8. The female terminal according to claim 7, wherein the second
female terminal is displaceable with respect to the first female
terminal portion.
9. The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein the elastic
connecting spring is elastically deformed by a load smaller than a
force of insertion and extraction between the first female terminal
and the male terminal.
10. The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein a first male
contact is positioned in the first contact receiving space and a
second male contact is positioned in the second contact receiving
space.
11. The female terminal according to claim 10, wherein the first
male terminal exhibits vibration patterns different from the second
male terminal.
12. The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein the elastic
connecting spring further comprises a first arm positioned on a
proximate end and a second arm positioned on a distal end.
13. The female terminal according to claim 12, wherein the first
and second arms extend approximately parallel along the
longitudinal axis.
14. The female terminal according to claim 12, wherein the first
arm is integrally connected to the first female terminal and the
second arm is integrally connected to the second female
terminal.
15. The female terminal according to claim 12, wherein a length of
the second arm is greater than a length of the first arm.
16. The female terminal according to claim 12, wherein the elastic
connecting spring is cantilevered, with the first arm and the
proximate end of the elastic connecting spring being a fixed end of
the cantilever, and the second arm and the distal end of the
elastic connecting spring being a free end of the cantilever.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector,
and more specifically, to an electrical connector having a female
terminal.
BACKGROUND
An electrical connector ("connector") is used for various
applications, depending on which, the connector may be subjected to
substantial vibrations. In a conventional connector, a male
connector having a male terminal and a female connector having a
female terminal, are brought into electrical contact when the male
and female terminals are electrically mated together. However, when
the connector is subjected to vibration, contact between the male
terminal and the female terminal is difficult to maintain, and the
reliability of the connector is thus impaired.
An example of conventional vibration resistant connectors can be
seen in Japanese Patent Nos. 2000-91029 ('029) and 2003-323924
('924). In '029, a connector is disclosed that connects a male
connector and a female connector to each other, even when the male
connector and the female connector do not properly face each other
upon assembling an instrument panel module. Additionally, the
connector in '029 prevents deformation or breakage on the
occurrence of displacement or vibration between modules after both
the connectors are connected.
In '924, a connector is disclosed having a structure that reduces
the transmission of vibration or shock between mated connectors,
thus maintaining a secure contact between the male and female
connectors.
In conventional connectors connecting a plurality of female
terminals retained by a single housing and a plurality of male
terminals connected to a single member, for example, a circuit
board, when this circuit board is vibrated by an external force,
both of the male terminals and the female connector including the
female terminals vibrate in synchronization with the circuit board.
Therefore, a relative positional relationship between the male
terminals and the female terminals, namely, a contact relationship,
can be maintained in an initial contact state, or, even if the
relationship cannot be maintained, the relative displacement of the
terminals with respect to each other, is inconsiderable.
However, such contact stability is lacking when the male terminals
are connected to different devices, an example being when male
terminals MA connected to a circuit board A and male terminals MB
connected to a circuit board B are in contact with a plurality of
female terminals retained by a single housing. In this case, the
respective vibration patterns of the circuit board A and the
circuit board B may be different from each other. It should be
noted that the vibration pattern defined herein includes at least a
vibration period and/or amplitude, such that a displacement of the
male terminal MA due to this vibration and a displacement of the
male terminal MB due to this vibration consequently differ from
each other. Based on this difference, a relative positional
relationship between the male terminal MA and a female terminal FA
and a relative positional relationship between the male terminal MB
and a female terminal FB must be present in order to maintain
contact stability.
There is a need for an electrical connector a female terminal
capable of keeping a relative contact positional relationship with
each male terminal, even when the female terminal is in contact
with the male terminal connected to a circuit board or another
member having a different vibration pattern.
SUMMARY
An electrical connector has a housing and a female terminal. The
housing has an assembly receiving space. The female terminal is
positioned in the assembly receiving space and has a first female
terminal, a second female terminal, and an elastic connecting
spring. The first female terminal has a first contact receiving
space. The second female terminal has a second contact receiving
space and is independently displaceable relative to the first
female terminal along a longitudinal axis. The elastic connecting
spring connects the first female terminal to the second female
terminal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a female terminal according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electrical
connector according to this embodiment, with respective components
attached;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electrical
connector according to this embodiment, with the female terminal, a
second housing member, and a third housing member detached; and
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electrical
connector according to this embodiment, with male terminals and the
third housing member detached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)
The present invention will be described in detail below on the
basis of an electrical connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 attached
hereto.
The electrical connector 1 according to embodiments of FIGS. 2-4,
includes a female terminal 10 and a housing 5. The female terminal
10 is positioned in the housing 5, and the housing 5 is connected
to a circuit board 6. The female terminal 10 makes electrical
contact with a first male contact 3 and a second male contact
3.
The first male contact 3 is connected to the circuit board 6, and
the second male contact 3 is connected to a device (not shown)
disposed below the circuit board 6 in FIGS. 2 to 4. Therefore, the
first male contact 3 and the second male contact 3 have different
vibration patterns. In order to absorb the different vibration
patterns, the electrical connector 1 has a configuration whereby
the female terminal 10 is supported by a supporting structure
defined by the housing 5.
The female terminal 10, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1,
includes a first female terminal 11, a second female terminal 12,
and a connecting spring 20 connecting the first female terminal 11
and the second female terminal 12. In the female terminal 10, the
first female terminal 11, the second female terminal 12, and the
connecting spring 20 are integrally formed by stamping and bending
a highly-conductive metal sheet, such as copper or copper alloy.
The first female terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 have
approximately the same shape and dimensions. The first and second
female terminals 11,12 are connected through the connecting spring
20 such that the positions of the first female terminal 11 and the
second female terminal 12, in longitudinal axis A, hereinafter
referred to as the longitudinal axis A, of the first male terminals
3, 4, are offset and out of alignment. As described below, since
the first female terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 are
connected through the connecting spring 20, the first female
terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 can be independently
displaced.
The first female terminal 11 includes a box-like terminal body 13
having a contact receiving opening 14 positioned on a receiving end
of the terminal body 13, and a contact receiving space 15 extending
inwards from the contact receiving opening 14. The first male
contact 3 is inserted through the contact receiving opening 14,
into the contact receiving space 15. An opposite second end of the
terminal body 13 is connected integrally with the connecting spring
20. In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4, a first leaf 16 and a
second leaf 17 are positioned in the contact receiving space 15,
and press the inserted first male contact 3 against an inner wall
of the terminal body 13. It should be noted that, in FIG. 2, the
first leaf 16 is in a relaxed position of an unloaded state,
wherein the first male contact 3 is not inserted, and therefore
overlaps with the first male contact 3.
A locking projection 18 is formed on an outer wall of the terminal
body 13. With the female terminal 10 attached to the housing 5, the
locking projection 18 engages the housing 5 to position and retain
the female terminal 10 in the housing 5.
Since the second female terminal 12 is substantially the same as
the first female terminal 11, the same components as those of the
first female terminal 11 are denoted by the same reference
numerals. Therefore, the description of the second female terminal
12 is omitted. As described above, however, the first female
terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 are positions of the
first female terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 along
the longitudinal axis A are offset, being out of alignment.
Specifically, when the female terminal 10 is attached to the
housing 5, the second female terminal 12 is positioned proximate to
the circuit board 6 than the first female terminal 11, which is
distal to the circuit board 6. In addition, the first female
terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 are positioned so as
to face in opposite directions, such that their respective locking
projections 18 face outward and their respective first leaf 16 and
second leaf 17 face each other inside the contact receiving space
15. Further, the locking projection 18 of the second female
terminal 12, as described below, functions when the second male
contact 3 and the second female terminal 12 are mated with each
other.
The connecting spring 20 includes a pair of first and second arms
21, 22 and a connecting member 23 connecting the distal ends of the
arms 21, 22 to each other. The connecting spring 20 is elastically
deformable by a weak force so that the first female terminal 11 and
the second female terminal 12 can be independently displaced when
the electrical connector 1 is subjected to vibration.
The first arm 21 is connected integrally with the second end of the
first female terminal 11, and extends along the longitudinal axis
A. Similarly, the second arm 22 is integrally connected to the
second end of the second female terminal 12, and extends along the
longitudinal axis A. In an embodiment, the length of extension of
the second arm 22 is longer than that of the first arm 21, such
that the positions of the first female terminal 11 to that of the
second female terminal 12, along the longitudinal axis A, are
offset. Since the arms 21, 22 are formed along the longitudinal
axis A, the arms 21, 22 may deflect in widthwise direction B,
orthogonally to the longitudinal axis A (See FIG. 1). The arms 21,
22 are narrowed at their respective terminal connecting ends, where
they are connected to the first female terminal 11 and the second
female terminal 12, so that the arms 21,22 can deflect easily when
the electrical connector 1 is subjected to vibration.
The connecting member 23 is formed in an approximate S-shape to
make the spring constant small, and is capable of deflecting
primarily along the longitudinal axis A. When the female terminal
10 is attached to the housing 5, the first female terminal 11 is
fixed to and restrained by the housing 5, but the second female
terminal 12 is not restrained but is free from the housing 5. Thus,
the connecting member 23 functions as a cantilever, whose fixed end
is an end of the connecting member 23 connected to the first arm
21.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first and second male contacts 3,
4, are pin-type contacts having a tab-like shape. The first and
second males contacts 3,4 are mated with the first female terminal
11 and the second female terminal 12, respectively.
The first male contact 3 has an approximate L-shape, and is
attached to a surface 7 of the circuit board 6. In an embodiment,
the first male contact 3 is attached by soldering (not shown),
although one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that
other known attachment mechanisms may also be used. The second male
contact 3 has an approximate straight shape, and is connected to
the electrical device (not shown). In an embodiment, the electrical
device does not have a mechanically restraining relationship with
the circuit board 6. Therefore, when the electrical device and the
circuit board 6 vibrate, the electrical device and the circuit
board 6 have different vibration patterns, and accordingly the
first male contact 3 and the second male contact 3 also have
different vibration patterns.
The first male contact 3 is brought into electrical contact with
the first female terminal 11 by inserting a mating end of the first
male contact 3 into the contact receiving space 15 of the first
female terminal 11. The first male contact 3 subjected to a
pressing force from the first leaf 16 and second leaf 17, which
elastically deform to press the first male contact 3 against the
inner wall of the terminal body 13 so that the first female
terminal 11 and the first male contact 3 are maintained in
electrical contact with each other.
The second male contact 3, similarly, is brought into electrical
contact with the second female terminal 12 by inserting a mating
end of the second male contact 3 into the contact receiving space
15 of the second female terminal 12. The second male contact 4 is
subjected to a pressing force from the first leaf 16 and the second
leaf 17, which elastically deform to press the second male contact
4 against the inner wall of the terminal body 13 so as to establish
and maintain electrical contact with the second female terminal 12.
A through-hole 8 is formed in the circuit board 6, and extends from
a front face and a back face thereof, and the second male contact 3
is positioned into the contact receiving space 15 through the
through-hole 8.
Contact between the first female terminal 11 and the first male
contact 3 needs be constant while the electrical connector 1 is
being used in order to stably maintain electrical connectivity
therebetween. If the relative positions of the first femal terminal
11 and the first male contact 3 are displaced, electrical contact
can no longer be maintained because of an insufficient contact
load, often due to wearing of contact surfaces of the first female
terminal 11 and the first male contact 3. Similarly, such
electrical connectivity applies to the combination of the second
male contact 4 and the second female terminal 12.
The housing 5, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, is
connected to the circuit board 6, and houses the female terminal 10
therein.
The housing 5 includes a first housing member 30, a second housing
member 40, and a third housing member 50 mounted in this order from
the circuit board 6 side. In an embodiment, each housing members
30,40,50 are produced by injection molding of insulating resin.
The first housing member 30, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 2
to 4, generally has the shape of an inverted cap, and includes a
contact retaining first base 31 facing the circuit board 6, a first
side wall 35 extending upward from a peripheral edge of the contact
retaining first base 31, and an assembly receiving space 36 (FIG.
3) defined by the contact retaining first base 31 and the first
side wall 35.
A first through-hole 32, into which the first male contact 3 is
inserted, and a second through-hole 33, into which the second male
contact 3 is inserted, are formed in the contact retaining first
base 31. The first through-hole 32 has opening dimensions set so
that the first male contact 3 is press-fitted therein. The second
through-hole 33 has an opening diameter set so that a clearance
exists between the second through-hole 33 and the second male
contact 3 which is inserted through the hole-hole 33. It should be
noted that insertion into a through-hole having a clearance is
hereinafter referred to as loosely fitting. The contact retaining
first base 31 has a first portion, which includes the first
through-hole 32, formed thicker than a second portion, which
includes the second through-hole 33, such that the first male
contact 3 is retained in the contact retaining first base 31 with a
sufficient force. The difference in thicknesses between the first
and second portions corresponds to the amount of displacement
between the first female terminal 11 and the second female terminal
12.
A foot 34 for fixing the first housing member 30 to the surface 7
of the circuit board 6 is positioned on a bottom facing surface of
the contact retaining first base 31. In an embodiment, the first
housing member 30 is connected to the circuit board 6 by soldering
the foot 34 to the surface 7.
The first male contact 3 and the second male contact 4, passing
through the contact retaining first base 31, and the female
terminals 10 11, mated with these male contacts 3,4, are positioned
in the assembly receiving space 36. Additionally, the second
housing member 40 and third housing member 50 are also positioned
in the assembly receiving space 36, and are connected to the first
housing member 30.
The second housing member 40, as shown in an embodiment of FIGS. 2
and 4, includes a second base 41 facing the contact retaining first
base 31 of the first housing member 30, a second side wall 45
extending upward from the periphery of the second base 41, and a
partition 46 dividing a region enclosed by the second base 41 and
the second side wall 45 into a first terminal receiving space 47
and a second terminal receiving space 48.
A third through-hole 42, through which the first male contact 3 is
inserted, and a fourth through-hole 43, through which the second
male contact 3 is inserted, are formed in the second base 41. The
first male contact 3 is loosely fitted in the third through-hole
42, and the second male contact 3 is positioned in the fourth
through-hole 43.
The first female terminal 11 is positioned in the first terminal
receiving space 47, and the second female terminal 12 is positioned
in the second terminal receiving space 48.
The first female terminal 11 is retained in the second housing
member 40 by positioning a contact receiving end, in which the
contact receiving opening 14 is formed, into contact with the
second base 41, and inserting the locking projection 18, positioned
on an opposite upper end, into a locking projection receiving space
(not labeled) of the second side wall 45.
A contact receiving end of the second female terminal 12 is
positioned proximate to, but spaced a distance away from the second
base 41, with a clearance being provided between the second female
terminal 12 and the second side wall 45 and the partition 46. A gap
(shown, but not labeled in FIG. 2) is formed between the locking
projection 18 of the second female terminal 12 and an upper end of
the second side wall 45 in contact with the second terminal
receiving space 48. Therefore, the second female terminal 12 is
suspended from the connecting spring 20 inside the second terminal
receiving space 48.
The third housing member 50, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2,
generally has the shape of a cap, and is connected to the first
housing member 30 so as to cover upper portions of the first
housing member 30 and the second housing member 40, including the
female terminal 10, the first male contact 3, and the second male
contact 4. Although not illustrated, one of ordinary skill in the
art would appreciate that the third housing member 50 is prevented
from falling out of the first housing member 30 by engaging a
locking piece formed on the first housing member 30, and a locking
piece formed on the third housing member 50, with each other.
The third housing member 50 includes a ceiling 51, a pair of side
walls 52 comprising a third sidewall 52A and a fourth sidewall 52B
extending from the periphery of the ceiling 51, and a connecting
spring receiving recess 53 defined by the ceiling 51 and the side
walls 52.
When the third housing member 50 is connected, a lower end of the
third side wall 52A is in contact with the locking projection 18 of
the first female terminal 11. Therefore, the first female terminal
11 is connected to the housing 5 by engaging the locking projection
18 between the second side wall 45 of the second housing member 40
and the third side wall 52A of the third housing member 50 from
above and below. In the housing 5, since the first housing member
30 is connected to the surface 7 of the circuit board 6, the first
female terminal 11 is indirectly connected to the circuit board
6.
When the third housing member 50 connected, a gap is provided
between a lower end of the fourth side wall 52B and the locking
projection 18 of the second female terminal 12. Therefore, the
locking projection 18 of the second female terminal 12 is not under
mechanical restraint.
The connecting spring 20 is positioned in the connecting spring
receiving recess 53, and the ceiling 51 and the third side wall 52
are positioned along the connecting spring 20 at a small distance
with the connecting spring 20. A pressing projection 54 projecting
horizontally is disposed on the ceiling 51, intersecting the fourth
side wall 52. The pressing projection 54 is used when the first
male contact 3 and the second female terminal 12 are mated.
When the pressing projection 54 is pressed downward, as the ceiling
51 deflects counterclockwise, the fourth side wall 52 is displaced
downward and brought into contact with the locking projection 18 of
the second female terminal 12. Then, when the locking projection 18
is further pressed downward, the fourth side wall 52 is displaced
until the locking projection 18 contacts the upper end of the
second side wall 45. In this manner, with the second female
terminal 12 temporarily restrained, mating of the second male
contact 3 and the second female terminal 12 is performed. After
mating, pressing the pressing projection 54 is stopped so that the
second female terminal 12 returns to the state of being not
mechanically restrained.
The functions and advantageous effects of the electrical connector
1 thus configured will be described below.
While the first female terminal 11 is connected to the housing 5,
the second female terminal 12 is suspended from the connecting
spring 20. That is, even when the first female terminal 11 is
subjected to vibration and displaced with the housing 5, the second
female terminal 12 is not necessarily displaced following the
vibration of the housing 5. However, in this embodiment, since a
force F2 of insertion and extraction between the second female
terminal 12 and the second male contact 3 exceeds a load F1
required for the connecting spring 20 to elastically deform, the
second female terminal 12 and the second male contact 3 can be
displaced while maintaining the position of contact. Thus, since
the first female terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 can
be displaced independently of each other, even when the circuit
board 6 and the electronic device (not shown) have different
vibration patterns, both of the female terminals 11,12 can vibrate
in synchronization with the respective vibration patterns of the
circuit board 6 and the electronic device, keeping the position of
contact with the male terminals 3,4. Therefore, even when being in
contact with male terminals 3,4 connected to devices having
different vibration patterns, the electrical connector 1 can stably
maintain electrical contact between the male terminals 3,4 and the
female terminals 11,12.
In the electrical connector 1, the positions of the first female
terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 are offset, so as to
be out of alignment along the longitudinal axis.
This causes a difference between the timing when the first male
contact 3 is mated with the first female terminal 11 and the timing
when the second male contact 3 is mated with the second female
terminal 12. Therefore, as compared with the case where the first
female terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 are disposed
in the same positions in the directions of insertion and
extraction, a mating force required at the same point of time can
be reduced.
In addition, since the positions of the first female terminal 11
and the second female terminal 12 along the longitudinal axis are
offset, the first male contact 3 and the second male contact 3,
each having different lengths, can be connected.
Further, since in the second female terminal 12 proximate to the
circuit board 6, a distance to the second end of the second female
terminal 12 can be increased, if necessary, so as to be longer than
that to a point of contact between the first leaf 16 and the second
male contact 3, thus ensuring effective contact lengths of the
second male contact 3 and the second female terminal 12.
Although suspended while the electrical connector 1 is being in
operation as a connector, the second female terminal 12 can be
temporarily mechanically restrained by operating the pressing
projection 54 at the time of mating with the second male contact 3,
so that mating the second female terminal 12 and the second male
contact 3 with each other can be reliably performed.
The present invention has been described above on the basis of the
embodiment, but one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate
that the present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments.
For example, the above embodiments of the connecting spring 20 are
exemplary, and the connecting spring 20 can have other shapes or
dimensions as long as the advantageous effects described above can
be achieved. In other embodiments, the connecting member 23 can
have a straight shape, and the lengths of the pair of arms 21, 22
can be equal. In these embodiments, the positions of the first
female terminal 11 and the second female terminal 12 along the
longitudinal axis are substantially equal with each other.
In the above embodiment, the first female terminal 11 and the
second female terminal 12 have the same design, but in an
embodiment the two female terminals 11,12 having different
designs.
In the above embodiments, an example of connecting two female
terminals via the connecting spring 20 is shown, but more than two
female terminals can be connected via a spring. In this case,
assuming that there are one or a plurality of female terminals
belonging to a group .alpha. and one or a plurality of female
terminals belonging to a group .beta., and that the group .alpha.
and the group .beta. have different vibration patterns, one of the
group .alpha. and the group .beta. is connected to the housing, and
the other of the group .alpha. and the group .beta. is not
restrained by the housing.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a box-type female terminal
and a tab-type male terminal are shown by way of example, but the
present invention is applicable to other types of female terminals
and male terminals.
In addition, as long as not departing from the spirit of the
present invention, the configurations described in the above
embodiment can be selectively adopted or removed or, if necessary,
changed to other configurations.
* * * * *